LARS Bohinen's worst injury fears are developing into reality - and the Norwegian ace has no chance of returning to Blackburn Rovers' squad for the Easter double against Southampton and Newcastle.

With Chris Sutton an equally unlikely participant, Rovers boss Ray Harford (pictured right), is expected to settle on an unchanged squad for Saturday's long trek to The Dell for the game against struggling Saints.

When Bohinen suffered his calf muscle injury on international duty for Norway, he expressed fears that it could be a potential three-month problem.

And, having failed to appear in a Rovers shirt since the victory over Bolton just two months ago, the worst scenario is happening.

"There is still scar tissue there and while I was close to playing recently, I had a setback, and I had to start again more or less from scratch" he said.

"Perhaps I tried to do too much too quickly.

"It has been better in the last few days but I don't think I have any chance for this weekend."

Bohinen had a similar injury in his Nottingham Forest days and that took three months to clear up.

So his current absence was not totally unexpected for the player. Meanwhile, Sutton's ankle injury continues to give cause for concern, with the threat that he may need surgery still there.

Sutton actually went on as a substitute in a first team game, setting up the winner for Alan Shearer at Tottenham.

Then he played a full reserve game and worked hard throughout the 90 minutes.

But there has been some more reaction, preventing him from carrying on with his comeback from ligament and tendon problems.

Harford has already said that surgery would be a last resort and, hopefully, that will not be necessary. But the injury is a worry.

Meanwhile, Matt Le Tissier is back in action for Southampton tonight (Wednesday, April 3) at Leeds, after serving a one-match suspension.

Saints have a difficult run-in in the relegation struggle.

After facing Leeds and then Rovers, they have to play Aston Villa, Manchester United and Newcastle!

Latest Double Your Money Club £500 winner is I Topping (Egerton), number 715A. Rovers Return prize of £2,000 from Saturday, number 245502, is still unclaimed.

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